Pneumatic shoe-form.



0. E. MOORE. PNEUMATIC SHOE FORM. APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 22, 1912.

1,086,782. Patented Feb. 10, 1914,

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WITNESSES INVENTOR W "m S COLUMBIA PLANDGRAPH 60.. WASHINGTON. D c.

OMER E. MOORE, OF COLDWATER, KANSAS.

PNEUMATIC SHOE-FORM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 10, 1914.

Application filed August 22, 1912. Serial No. 716,548.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, OMER E. MOORE, a citizenof the United States, residing at Goldwater, in the county of Comancheand State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Pneumatic Shoe-Forms, of which the following is a specification,reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to a device for retaining a shoe in proper shapesuch as are termed shoe trees or forms.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a formadapted to fit any size or shape of shoe so that it will be unnecessaryfor a person to have a separate set of forms for each different shape ofshoes.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists ingeneral of certain novel arrangements of details and combinations ofparts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, and specifically claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, like characters of reference indicate likeparts in the several views, and :Figure 1 is a section through a shoeshowing the shoe form also in section located within the shoe. Fig. 2 isa similar view of a low shoe showing the lower part of a two-part formused in connection therewith. Fig. 3 is a view of the top of the upperform showing the reinforcing which renders the same rigid. Fig. 4 is aview similar to Fig. 3 but showing the lower form top. Fig. 5 is adetailed side elevation of the upper form showing the disposition ofcertain hooks. Fig. 6 is an enlarged detailed section showing one ofsaid hooks. Fig. 7 is a plan view of a certain valve used in connectionherewith. Fig. 8 is a section through such a valve.

Each of the forms constructed in accordance with this invention,consists of a body portion 10 formed of elastic material such as rubberor the like, and provided with a top 11. This top 11 is reinforced bysuitable wires 12 embedded therein and, if desired, the material of thetop may also be provided with ribbed portions 13 over these wires 12 tolend further stiffness. It is preferred that one of the wires beinserted in the device adjacent the rim, and secured to this insertingwire 14 is a series of projecting hooks or prongs 15 provided with upperinclined ends as can readily be seen by reference to Fig. 6. Suitablydisposed in the top of each form is an opening 16 wherein is fitted alining 17 having the centrally disposed valve opening 18 formed therein.Secured to the lining 17 is a plate 19. Extending from this plate 19 isa flexible arm 20 which carries on its upper surface a hemisphericalball 21 constituting a valve for an opening 18.

It is to be observed that these forms may be made if desired, insections as shown in Fig. 1, or a single form may be used as in Fig. 2.

When using these forms, the form is inserted in the shoe in a deflatedcondition and by any suitable means, such as a bicycle pump or the like,the form is pumped full of air. It will thus fill out the shoe and causethe same to retain its proper shape. Where two or more forms are usedfor a single shoe, each form is adapted to fit a special portion of theshoe and the lowermost form is, of course, placed in the shoe andinflated before the remainder are placed in position. There has thusbeen provided a simple and efficient device of the character describedand for the purpose specified.

It is obvious that many minor changes may be made in the form andconstruction of this invention without departing from the material partsthereof. It is not, therefore, desired to confine the invention to theexact form herein shown and described, but it is wished to include allsuch as properly come within the scope claimed.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, is

1. A pneumatic shoe form having a flexible body and a substantiallyrigid top provided with outwardly projecting shoe engaging prongs.

2. A pneumatic shoe form comprising a pluralityof sections each providedwith an elastic body and a substantially rigid top, the top on eachsect-ion having an inwardly opening valve located beneath the topwhereby to leave the upper surface of each section free from aprojecting valve, and

prongs extending laterally from the top of each section to hold the samein position.

3. A pneumatic shoe form including a valved top provided with areinforcement consisting of interlacing Wires, and prongs carried bycertain of said Wires and extending laterally from the periphery of saidtop.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my s1gnature 1n presence of twowitnesses.

OMER E. MOORE.

Witnesses:

C. M. PENNINGTON, A. E. YOUNKER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0.

